The head of men’s tennis has vehemently rejected claims that Jannik Sinner received preferential treatment and is confident the sport will “survive” if the world number one ultimately faces a lengthy doping ban.
In an interview with AAP, ATP president Andrea Gaudenzi insisted that Sinner’s doping case had been “handled according to the rules” and that, just like Novak Djokovic – who complained that players were being left in the dark because of the controversy – he too had not been informed about it before the storm.
Sinner arrived in Melbourne to defend his Australian Open title with his future in doubt after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision to ban him for a month for twice testing positive for an anabolic steroid last March.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that Sinner was not at fault, accepting the 23-year-old’s explanation that the banned performance enhancer had entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had apparently used a spray containing the steroid to treat his own severed finger.
However, with WADA’s appeal, Sinner could still be suspended for up to two years if found guilty.
Gaudenzi urges fans and media to be patient and let the matter play out.
“I honestly believe there has been a lot of misinformation, which is unfortunate,” Gaudenzi told AAP ahead of the Sinner’s Open title defense which begins on Sunday.
“I am 100 percent sure that there was no preferential treatment. The process was conducted properly and according to the rules, by the ITIA.
“I am extremely happy that the ITIA is now in place, which was not the case, for example, in the 90s when I was playing. It was the responsibility of the ATP or the WTA to manage the anti-doping program in tennis.”
Gaudenzi said he was not made aware of the Sinner saga before many others and pleaded for patience.
“I found out two days before the ITIA announcement – as it should have happened,” he said.
“At first I was a little shocked. (But) it’s completely independent and they obviously went to an independent panel.”
Gaudenzi believes it is lazy for armchair critics to come up with “conspiracy theories.”
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“It’s a very popular thing to say: he’s number one in the world, obviously he’s Italian and I’m Italian,” Gaudenzi said.
“People sometimes confuse the outcome of a specific case with the process. I think that’s where the problem lies.
“The process is the same: it was not handled differently. But each case is different, each circumstance is different.
“Sometimes a player can appeal a suspension and not be successful. Sometimes that is the case, and it depends on the evidence, expert opinion and merits.
“It depends on a huge number of variables.”
Gaudenzi pleads for fans and stakeholders to let the matter play out
“The case is still ongoing. WADA has appealed, so it’s not over yet and justice is doing its job,” he said.
“But I really want to emphasize and assure everyone that the process was followed 100 percent.
“And we have all the evidence and anyone who wants to dig deeper and read the documents will understand.”
Jannik Sinner warms up to defend his Australian Open title.
If Sinner is banned, Gaudenzi concedes, “obviously it’s not good for the sport and it would be a shame.”
“But we will have to live with it and justice will do its job,” he added.
“If that’s the case, I think it will survive and I think we will survive. Overall, tennis is a very strong product.
“When I started, I was at the age of ‘OK, you’re going to have a problem because Rafa (Nadal) or Roger (Federer) or Novak (Djokovic) are retiring and there’s a new generation.’
“And I experienced the whole Agassi and Sampras story, ‘When they retire, it’s going to be a disaster.’
“But the product as a whole is very, very solid.”
PAA
